In their work Celine Dion, a true storyPublished on Thursday 17 November, the journalist and Herve Tropea review the singer’s extraordinary career and wonder about her recent silence. Technical service.
The death of Rene Angeli in 2016 was a “blast” for him. Four years later, the death of his mother, Therese, ended his bruising. Since her last public appearance in March 2020, Celine Dion has been shrouded in silence. Only her sister Linda, her assistant, and her children, 21-year-old René-Charles and 12-year-old twins Eddie and Nelson, have direct contact with the singer.
In the video, love againThe first images of the romantic comedy with Celine Dion
Just an artist who canceled her European tour in April, she occasionally shares cryptic Instagram posts. In addition, he observes a real media fast. Journalist Laurence Pio, who has covered the artist for twenty years, and Los Angeles reporter Hervé Tropea, who has conducted several interviews with the star, wondered why he had disappeared from the radar screens, much to the dismay of his millions of fans.
In their work Celine Dion, true story (1)published on Thursday, November 17, the two journalists discuss with those who accompanied the interpreter My heart will keep beating in his extraordinary journey from his sister Claudette to his musicians. And try to lift the curtain on the last two years, marked by the absence of a singer with 260 million records sold. A book that also conveys a message of hope for a return to the stage that those close to Celine Dion firmly believe in. During that time, the artist will show the romantic comedy love again in May 2023. His first big role in the cinema.
Its dark side
Miss Figaro. – Celine Dion readily confides in her personal life, so much so that she calls herself an “open book.” Are there things we still don’t know about him?
Lawrence Poe. – Absolutely. We feel like we’ve shared Celine Dion’s entire life since she was 14, because she’s deeply Quebecois, so very cash. The way he tells the story of René Angélil’s death, for example, is incredibly powerful. But we found in our investigation that he was in control. He knows the codes of show business. Even though she has shared a lot with her fans, she knows how to keep her dark side under wraps. The last two years have shown this perfectly.
Somehow he was saved by his love affair with Rene Angelil
Laurence Piau
How is Celine Dion different from celebrities?
Throughout his life, he has stayed away from showbiz and its trappings. Somehow he was saved by his love affair with Rene Angelil. Celine Dion is also the first celebrity to speak so openly about IVF 20 years ago. By then, she was already talking about her ovarian samples and the children she was expecting, despite the teasing.
viva las vegas!
Her late husband, René Angelil, remains the chief architect of her career. How did their relationship work?
There was deep respect between them. Celine Dion trusted him almost blindly when it came to her career choices. But when it came to the day-to-day decisions of where to settle, how to raise the children, she was in control. Rene Angelil also served as an outlet for him. When something went wrong during the show, he was the first person in charge. And when he had something to say to her, he said it to her without hesitation.
Celine Dion did not want to leave her son to return to the stage
Laurence Piau
Does their relationship have flaws?
A tense episode happened between Celine Dion and Rene Angeli. It was in 2003, after René-Charles was born. Everything was ready for him to start his adventure in Las Vegas, where he had to give concerts at Caesars Palace. The investments were huge. But a few months before his first show, when René-Charles was 2, Celine Dion told René Angélil she didn’t want to leave her son behind to return to the stage. He was scared. He cried, threatened, offered to compensate the expenses. In the end, they came to an agreement. He will indeed perform in Las Vegas, but if the living conditions there do not suit him, he will have the option of withdrawing. René-Charles will also be able to be close to him in the apartment, so that he can see her whenever he wants, rather than having to go back home further away.
Las Vegas has proven to be an important city in the couple’s history. What did she represent to Celine Dion and her husband?
It was for them a stable life and a chance to have children. This allowed Celine Dion to have a routine. At 4pm he was going to rehearse at Caesars Palace and do his show. At 23:00 he came home to kiss René-Charles. For his part, René Angélil could satisfy his passion for the game, sometimes even during his wife’s concerts. It took a long time between them. Celine Dion focused on René-Charles, and René Angélil must have felt inadequate. They finally found a balance.
In the video: Celine Dion. his first appearance on French television
The dark side of Rene Angelil
You evoke the dark side of René Angélil in your book. Specifically, how he would remove some of the “forgotten legends” that have played a part in building Celine Dion’s career…
According to Vito Luprano, Celine Dion’s executive producer for more than twenty years, Rene Angelil wanted to weed out people whose influence was becoming too much. For years, Celine Dion thanked Vito Luprano for encouraging her to sing some of the titles. René Angélil took a dislike to him and their working relationship ended. He would also attribute some of his ideas to himself. There are a number of people who worked on Celine Dion’s career and want to regain their place in the picture.
You also go back to the rape allegations against Rene Angelil. What happened ?
These allegations date back to the early 2000s, when Celine Dion was heavily pregnant. One day, Rene Angelil is playing at Caesars Palace Casino when a woman in her forties approaches him. She asks him to come and greet her disabled friend who is in their hotel room. Rene Angelil accompanies him there. The 40-year-old claims he started fondling her in the elevator and allegedly jumped on her in her suite before raping her.
How did Rene Angelil react when he learned of these accusations?
When the lawyer reports that the alleged victim is asking for 2 million euros in exchange for his silence, he accepts. He prefers to settle the case before it comes out. She told Celine Dion only after the pregnancy, and he stood up to her. Two years later, the casino woman contacts Renee again. This time he is asking for 20 million dollars, taking into account that his conditions, in particular, that he does an AIDS screening test, were not respected. She agrees to accept them, herself and her husband. The couple threatens to say what they want if they don’t get the requested money. But the FBI agent is recording their conversation. The couple will be arrested for extortion. René Angélil will never leave Caesar’s Palace alone again and will always be surrounded by quite expensive protection. He will also never be tried because the Vegas police will plead lack of evidence.
A new era
Rene Angelil died in 2016. It is clear that Celine was Dion before and after her disappearance. How has he changed?
He started doing everything he didn’t like. She was dressed very sexy. He met showbiz. He has collaborated with the likes of Sia (on the song Loved me back to lifeEditor’s Note:) and David Guetta (on the title fly alone produced by DJ, editor’s note). She posed for the cover fashion We have a feeling he wanted to tear it down. He also did a few stunts. In July 2019, when she arrived at the parade on the arm of her dancer Pepe Munoz, she knew that the celebrity press was going to make headlines about the love they found when they were not in a relationship. He also lost a few followers. She broke up with Patrick Angelil, one of Rene’s sons, who worked with her. Above all, he fired Aldo Giampaolo, the impresario who had been installed by Rene Angelil. In short, Celine has changed, and so have those around her.
He once wanted René-Charles to be his impresario
Laurence Piau
Who do you think could replace René Angelil with Celine Dion?
He once wanted René-Charles to take over. It was natural for him, because his eldest son had followed him behind the scenes since he was 4 years old. But René-Charles was not like that. His rejection hurt Celine Dion. As for his employees, producer Gilbert Coulier explains in the book that they do not have the necessary temperament to discuss the choice of a star. Who could oppose him? Who could tell him? “You should sing this song, it has potential.” The mystery remains intact.
Back on stage?
You mention in your book that Celine Dion suffers from health problems, in particular, globus syndrome, which is manifested by the feeling of having a lump in the throat and spasms and prevents her from singing. Some are also worried about his mental health… How is he really doing?
Rumors spread in Las Vegas that he is going through a difficult period from a psychological point of view. He is quite alone. He has not spoken to his family for two years, except for his sister Linda. His direct correspondence is done by SMS. He lost the two pillars of his life: his mother and Rene Angelil. He decided to leave “Caesar’s Palace” in June 2019. It’s a big break in the last twenty years of his life. However, his mental health is currently the subject of speculation. It is clear that he has voice problems and physical pains. Celine Dion has been in constant struggle with her body for a long time.
Those who know him are convinced that he will return to the stage
Laurence Piau
Can we still hope to return to the stage?
Everyone who knows him agrees on this. They are sure that he will come to the stage again. He loves fame, he loves to be applauded, he loves to perform. There is also, perhaps, an element of ego, because Adele will sing in Las Vegas on November 18. It is not known when Celine Dion will return. But he will be back.
(1) Celine Dion, True Story, By Laurence Pio and Hervé Tropea, published on November 17, 2022, Ed. Robert Laffont, 288 pages, €20
Source: Le Figaro
